Visitors do have to pay an entrance fee to visit Yosemite National Park but don’t let that put you off – you get a whole lotta’ park for your money (some days are free but we’ll talk about that in a minute).

Right, what will it cost ya?

Visitors who roll up to the park in a private car, van, RV, pickup truck etc will have to pay $20 to enter the park – that’s it, it includes all of the passengers and is valid for a full seven days.

Visitors who arrive at Yosemite National Park on foot, a bicycle, a horse, a motorcycle or on a bus (non-commercial) will have to pay $10 each, well, those who are over the age of 15 years will, the rest can enter the park for free.

There are some days when there are no entrance fees to pay to Yosemite National Park – entrance is free. Here are the dates for 2013 (the days are usually the same, it is just the dates which change a little from year to year).

Martin Luther King Jr Day – 21 January 2013

National Park Week – April 22 through to 26 2013

National Park Service Founders Day – 25 August 2013

National Public Lands Day – 28 September 2013

Veterans Day Weekend – 9 through to 11 November 2013

This covers your entrance fee to the park (you don’t need to make any reservations prior to your visit) – however, if you want to stay overnight in Yosemite National Park that’s a different story. Reservations may be required.

There are some commercially run lodgings available within Yosemite National Park which do require reservations. Some of the campgrounds need to be reserved in advance, some of them don’t.

NB – If you want to camp on one of the campgrounds which accepts reservations between the months of April and September you will need to make a reservation – they get pretty full during those months.

Camping in Yosemite National Park

There are a total of 13 campgrounds within Yosemite National Park of which seven accept reservations. Camping is a very popular pastime in Yosemite so if a campground accepts reservations you’d better make one, and the other campgrounds which run on a “first come first served” basis are often full up by noon from the months of May through to September.

Yosemite National Park Campgrounds

Upper Pines Campground – Yosemite Valley – has 238 sites which are open all year round. The maximum RV length is 35 ft and trailers of up to 24 ft can be accommodated. Reservations are required between mid March and the beginning of December. Pets are allowed at this campground, tap water is available with regular restrooms and the fee is $20 per night.

Lower Pines Campground – Yosemite Valley – has 60 campgrounds and is open between the end of March through to the end of October. A maximum RV length of 40 ft can be accommodated with a maximum trailer size of up to 35 ft. Reservations are required for this campground. Pets are permitted, tap water is available with regular restrooms and the fee is $20 per night.

North Pines Campground – Yosemite Valley – has a total of 81 sites and is open between the beginning of April until the beginning of November. The maximum RV length accepted is 40 ft with a maximum trailer length of 35 ft. Reservations are required. Pets are permitted, there is tap water with regular restrooms and the camping fee is $20 per night.

Camp 4 – Yosemite Valley – has 35 sites which are open all year round but not suitable for RV’s or trailers. Pets are not allowed on this site, reservations are not required it is a strictly first come, first served campground and the camping fee is $5 per person per night.

Wawona Campground – South of Yosemite Valley – has 93 sites and is open the whole year through. A maximum of 35 ft is accepted for RV’s and trailers, tap water and restrooms are available, pets are welcome and reservations are accepted and strongly advised between April 17 through to October 7. The camping fees are $20 per night.

Bridalveil Creek Campground – South of Yosemite Valley – has 110 sites and is open from early in July until early in September. This campground is strictly run on a first come, first served basis. A maximum 35 ft RV can be accommodated or a trailer of maximum 24 ft. Tap water and restrooms are available, pets are accepted and the camping fees are just $14 per night.

Hodgdon Meadow Campground – North of Yosemite Valley – there are 105 campsites available at Hodgdon Meadow which is open throughout the year. Reservations are accepted and strongly advised between mid April through to mid October. RV’s can be accommodated up to 40 ft and trailers up to a maximum of 30 ft. Tap water and restrooms are available, pets are accepted and the fees are $20 per night.

Crane Flat Campground – North of Yosemite Valley – there are 166 sites at this campground which must be reserved in advance. The campground is open between mid July and mid October. RV’s of up to 40 ft are welcome, and trailers up to 30 ft. Pets are permitted, tap water and restrooms are available and the charges are $20 per night.

Tamarack Flat Campground – North of Yosemite Valley – the 52 sites at this campground are available on a first come, first served basis between the opening dates of some time in July until the middle of October. This campground is not suitable for RV’s or trailers, creek water is available (which must be boiled) and vault toilets, pets are not permitted and the camping fees are $10 per night.

White Wolf Campground – North of Yosemite Valley – this campground is open between July and the middle of September and is available on a first come, first served basis. There are 74 sites, some of which can accommodate RV’s up to 27 ft and trailers up to 24 ft. Tap water is available along with regular restrooms, the cost of camping here is $14 per night.

Yosemite Creek Campground – North of Yosemite Valley – this campground has 75 sites and is open between July and early in September. No RV’s or trailers can be accommodated at this first come, first served campsite. Creek water is available which must be boiled, there are vaulted toilets and the fees are $10 per night.

Porcupine Flat Campground – North of Yosemite Valley – there are 52 sites at this campground which is open between July and the middle of October. All sites are available on a first come, first served basis and there is limited space for RV’s up to 24 ft and trailers up to 20 ft. Only creek water is available which must be boiled before use and there are vaulted toilets. Camping fees at this campground are $10 per night.

Tuolumne Meadows Campground – North of Yosemite Valley – this large campground (with 304 sites) is open between the middle of July through to the end of September. Half of the sites are available on a first come, first served basis, the other 50% must be reserved in advance. RV’s can be accommodated up to 35 ft in length with a maximum trailer size of 35 ft. Tap water is available with regular restrooms and the campground fee is $20 per night.

Wilderness Permits at Yosemite National Park

Lots of people like to visit Yosemite National Park to get away from it all and enjoy a little solitude – only trouble is that when there are lots and lots of people solitude ain’t gonna’ happen. Anyone who wants to camp in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park must obtain a permit – there are only so many permits issued at each trailhead to ensure that the visitors can enjoy some sort of solitude during their visit. 60% of these permits can be reserved in advance at a price of $5 per reservation plus $5 per person. If peace and solitude is your thing you’ll be well advised to book a little in advance.